MARCUS HOOK -- Marcus Hook Mayor James "Jay" Schiliro accused state Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-159, of Chester, of using his legislative power to steer grant funding to organizations that benefit himself, his family and his associates.

Schiliro, a Republican running against Kirkland this fall, requested the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission and the U.S. Attorney General investigate Kirkland for possible ethics violations. He voiced his concerns Monday morning in front of Kirkland's district office in Marcus Hook, which was closed because of the Columbus Day holiday.

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Schiliro said the House Democratic Caucus has directed thousands of dollars in grant funding to various organizations affiliated with Kirkland, including Community Baptist Church, the Chester Fine Arts Center East and the Across Colors Cultural Committee.

Schiliro accused Kirkland of "possibly" requesting that money be directed to those organizations and implied that if Kirkland did so, it was because he, his family and associates stood to benefit.

"This is taxpayer money," Schiliro said. "We're not talking about a few thousand dollars here. We're talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you can't bring a receipt for how this money was spent, then people need to investigate it."

Kirkland, who has served the district for two decades, was not present at the press conference. Reached by phone, Kirkland encouraged the investigation.

"I welcome the ethics committee to do whatever they have to do," Kirkland said. "I've been a legislator for 20 years. I think I know a little bit about ethics and a little bit about grants, about dispersement and about how they're supposed to be spent."

Kirkland said Schiliro's accusation would be "laughable" except that Schiliro tried to "drag" his family's name through the mud.

"I think that's about as low as you can go because you don't have anything to run on, so you attack my family, my church and my brother, who is deceased," Kirkland said.

Schiliro outlined his accusations in a four-page letter to the ethics commission that included an entire page of web addresses citing his reasoning.

Schiliro claimed grant documentation showed portions of $30,000 awarded to Community Baptist Church in 2008 and 2009 was used to pay a program coordinator for the youth group. Noting Kirkland serves as the church's director of youth services, Schiliro said he wants to know whether that money went into Kirkland's pockets.

He said the grant funded a youth program accessible to anyone -- not just churchgoers -- and that, as a legislator, he ensured various churches received grants.

Schiliro also questioned the use of nearly $130,000 in grants that the Chester Fine Arts Center East received from 2008 and 2010. The nonprofit was founded by Kirkland's late brother, Anzer.

Schiliro said he wants to know whether the nonprofit's board of directors -- which has included family members of Kirkland, including his wife, Susie -- benefited from the funding.

"I believe it would be worth examining whether the board of directors of this nonprofit approved expending money for a public relations firm that employed its family members and whether those board members benefited in any way from the manner in which they expended state dollars," Schiliro said.

The public relations firm Schiliro referenced is Starr and Associates, run by Ronald Starr, Kirkland's son-in-law and the chief of staff to Chester Mayor John Linder.

Kirkland said he helped the Fine Arts Center obtain a grant because he watched Anzer work tirelessly to provide arts programs for Chester residents.

"My brother has worked in this community for years building the Fine Arts Center and getting ... funding from barely anybody," Kirkland said. "Did I help my brother's Fine Arts Center? You're darn skippy I did. Guess what -- if I had the money today, I'd do it again."

Schiliro added that the Across Colors Cultural Committee previously received $85,000 in grant funding, some of which was used to pay musical performers at its annual festival. Kirkland's daughter, Tyra Starr, performed at the festival, which is sponsored by Kirkland.

"If Tyra Starr was in fact paid for her performance using state dollars and Thaddeus used his office to advocate or direct the funding, I believe this would also be worthy of an ethics review," Schiliro said.

Kirkland said he brought in numerous local performers to play at the festival, which he added has continued without grant funding for several years.

"Why in the world would I bring in every other artist in the city and outside of the city and not my daughter?" Kirkland said. "I'm not crazy. My daughter is a performer and she performs well. I wouldn't shortchange her."

Schiliro said he would be mailing his letter to the ethics commission today.

"These questions need to be answered," Schiliro said.

"Like I said before, I welcome an ethics investigation," Kirkland said. "This was just a way for him to get his name in the paper. Watch how far this goes."

The Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission was closed for Columbus Day and a representative could not be reached for comment.